MLB Draft 2025: Predictions for the First 40 Picks

With the Combine underway and few games remaining in Omaha, the MLB draft season is nearing its end. It’s time for another projection of the first round of the 2025 draft. The start of the MLB draft combine marks the beginning of rumor season, where speculation drifts away from reality. Private on-field workouts for the mentioned players are already over, which means that rumors focus more on controlling perception than reflecting a new reality. An important trend is the increase in college position players, which could influence high school players to fall in the projections, often due to higher bonuses.

Contents

First Round Selections Promotion Incentive Bonus Selections Compensation for selections Competitive Balance Selections

My “speculative” projection in the last mock was Arkansas’ right fielder, Gage Wood, at the 17th position. I thought he could be this year’s Cade Horton or Ty Floyd, rising late through the college postseason. Wood threw a no-hitter earlier this week in the College World Series, and now seems to have a value in the range where I initially projected him, which was high at the time.
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Now, let’s predict the first 40 players who will come off the board when this year’s MLB draft begins on Sunday, July 13th.

First Round Selections

1. Washington Nationals
Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU.
2. Los Angeles Angels
Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee.
3. Seattle Mariners
Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State.
4. Colorado Rockies
Ethan Holliday, 3B, Stillwater HS (Oklahoma).
5. St. Louis Cardinals
JoJo Parker, SS, Purvis HS (Mississippi).
6. Pittsburgh Pirates
Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon State.
7. Miami Marlins
Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton HS (Oklahoma).
8. Toronto Blue Jays
Ike Irish, C/OF, Auburn.
9. Cincinnati Reds
Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona HS (California).
10. Chicago White Sox
Billy Carlson, SS, Corona HS (California).
11. Athletics
Brendan Summerhill, CF, Arizona.
12. Texas Rangers
Steele Hall, SS, Hewitt-Trussville HS (Alabama).
13. San Francisco Giants
Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma.
14. Tampa Bay Rays
Gavin Kilen, SS, Tennessee.
15. Boston Red Sox
Gavin Fien, 3B, Great Oak HS (California).
16. Minnesota Twins
Gage Wood, RHP, Arkansas.
17. Chicago Cubs
Wehiwa Aloy, SS, Arkansas.
18. Arizona Diamondbacks
Marek Houston, SS, Wake Forest.
19. Baltimore Orioles
Jace LaViolette, CF, Texas A&M.
20. Milwaukee Brewers
Caden Bodine, C, Coastal Carolina.
21. Houston Astros
Xavier Neyens, 3B, Mount Vernon HS (Washington).
22. Atlanta Braves
Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara.
23. Kansas City Royals
Josh Hammond, 3B, Wesleyan Christian HS (North Carolina).
24. Detroit Tigers
Andrew Fischer, 3B, Tennessee.
25. San Diego Padres
Slater de Brun, CF, Summit HS (Oregon).
26. Philadelphia Phillies
Sean Gamble, 2B, IMG Academy (Florida).
27. Cleveland Guardians
Tate Southisene, SS, Basic HS (Nevada).

Promotion Incentive Bonus Selections

28. Kansas City Royals: Daniel Pierce, SS, Mill Creek HS (Georgia)

Compensation for selections

29. Arizona Diamondbacks: Kayson Cunningham, SS, Johnson HS (Texas)
30. Baltimore Orioles: Cam Cannarella, CF, Clemson
31. Baltimore Orioles: Dax Kilby, SS, Newnan HS (Georgia)
32. Milwaukee Brewers: Jaden Fauske, OF, Nazareth Academy HS (Illinois)

Competitive Balance Selections

33. Boston Red Sox: Luke Stevenson, C, North Carolina
34. Detroit Tigers: Aaron Watson, RHP, Trinity Christian HS (Florida)
35. Seattle Mariners: Ethan Conrad, RF, Wake Forest
36. Minnesota Twins: Charles Davalan, LF, Arkansas
37. Tampa Bay Rays: Anthony Eyanson, RHP, LSU

These three teams had their first-round selections delayed 10 spots due to exceeding the second competitive balance tax surcharge threshold. We will include them so that all 30 teams have a projected selection.